Calls for urgent review into prisoner safety

A WEST Yorkshire lawyer is calling for urgent reviews into inmate safety for vulnerable individuals after the tragic and avoidable death of a young woman in prison.

An inquest held into the death of 21-year-old Emily Hartley returned a narrative verdict after she died at HMP New Hall, Flockton, in April 2016. She had lived in Leeds prior to her arrest.

Ruth Bundey, a partner at Harrison Bundey in Leeds, was asked to represent Emily’s family in the proceedings by the charity INQUEST.

The inquest was held at Wakefield Coroners’ Court and overseen by David Hinchliff, the Senior Coroner for West Yorkshire, and with a jury sitting.

Ruth Bundey said: “This was Emily’s first time in prison. Her remand was against a background of serious mental ill health including self-harm, suicide attempts and drug addiction. Emily’s death was one of four at New Hall in 2016, at least three of which were self-inflicted.”

As part of the suicide and selfharm management processes, Emily was meant to be observed at regular intervals. She continued to self-harm and frequently advised prison staff that she wished to take her own life.

Despite the obvious context, it was also deemed appropriate for Emily to be made subject to disciplinary procedures when dealing with her behaviour.

On April 23, 2016, Emily took her own life behind a building where prisoner exercise took place. It took two and a half hours for Emily to be found despite the fact that staff were meant to check on her wellbeing twice every hour.

Returning a narrative verdict, the inquest’s findings also concluded that the deterioration in Emily’s mental state should have prompted a review, and she should have been moved to a therapeutic unit; failures in the implementation of the implementation of suicide and self-harm procedures known as ACCT were a contributing factor in Emily’s death; and the lack of professionalism shown by some staff could have been interpreted by Emily as bullying.

The staff in question gave contradictory evidence at the inquest, which led to an observation by the jury that it was ‘logically clear that fictional accounts were given under oath,’ and finally, the exercise yard (where Emily died) was not fit for purpose. Risk assessments should have readily identified that prisoners could disappear from view.

Ruth Bundey continued: “During her time in New Hall Emily struggled to cope with both prison and her mental health issues. Her behaviour had dramatically escalated eight days prior to her death when she used a ligature as well as showing a mental health nurse a ‘suicide file’ together with a letter for ‘who finds me.’ Knowledge of this file had not been properly shared among staff so adequate precautions could be taken or even stepped up.

“The jury’s assessment of Emily’s case, and its findings, are clear. Emily was failed by an inadequate system and a distinct lack of competence.

“Lessons must be learned from this tragic and totally avoidable death. At the very least, it is to be hoped that the jury’s findings are properly and thoroughly considered, leading to widespread changes and improvements not just at New Hall but across the entire prison estate.”

Harrison Bundey is part of Ison Harrison, who have 11 offices across West Yorkshire including Huddersfield.

For more information visit https://www.isonharrison.co.uk